Retort for sterilizing or cooking goods.



No. 640,234. Patented Jan. 2, I900. F. W. SMITH.

BETORT FOR STERILIZING 0B COOKING GOODS.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.)

2 Sneaky-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

w: NORRIIS warms co. Pnoraumo. msumm'on, n c.

Patented Jan. 2, i900.

F. W. SMITH.

RETOBT FOR STERILIZING 0R COOKING GOODS.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.)

2 Sheetk-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L'Viinew ea m: MoRFus PETERS ca. wmoumo, WASNWOTON, u u,

ll'rvrrnn Srarns PATENT rrion.

FRANK W. ShLIITH, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICKO. OONANT, OF SAME PLACE.

RETURT FOR STERlLlZING OR COOKING GOODS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 640,234, dated January2, 1900.

Application filed July 23,1898. $e1'ial No. 686,651. (No model.)

To (tZZ whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retorts forsterilizing or Cooking Goods; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to retorts for sterilizing or cooking goodsinclosed in cans or other packages, and comprises an improvement in thevalve by which without escape of the steam or heat from the retort thecans are introduced therein and withdrawn therefrom and an improvementin the means of feeding the cans to the inletvalve and receiving themfrom the outlet-valve. The improvement in the valve consists in thenovel construction of the pockets therein, whereby by reason of theexternal wall thereof and the lip upon the end of the latter the cans orpackages are prevented from coming into contact with the casing of thevalve. The roughening of the casing with consequent impairment of theefficiency and tightness of the valve is thus avoided.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end View of the retort, parts of theframe being broken out to show the revolving frame or cylinder, thevalves being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe valve and seat with substitute for the equalizing device and amodification of the feed; Fig. 8, a vertical section of the valve-seat.Fig. 4 is a top plan of the valve. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of amodification of the valve. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the valveshown in Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a vertical section of the valveseat with sideelevation of the valve; Fig. 8, a vertical section of the same; Fig. 9,a detail showing the method of connecting the valvestem with the valve;Fig. 10, a detail showing a portion of the feed and hopper. Fig. 11 isan end view of the retort, showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 12 is aside elevation of the end of the retort, showing the operatingmechanism. Fig. 13 is an end view of a modification of the valve-seatand feed.

Fig. let is an end view of the valveseat and modification of the feed,the latter being operated by a cam and lever. Fig. 15 is a sideelevation of the valve-seat shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is an end view ofa further modification of the feeding device. Fig. 17 is a transversevertical section of a modification of the valve and feeding device.

Referring to the drawings, a is the outer or inclosing cylinder of theretort. Z) is theinner rotating cylinder, supported upon the shaft 16,which is j ournaled at either end of the cylinder a, and c c the deviceswhereby the cans or packages maybe held upon the surface of the cylinder17.

In Fig. 1, dis the valve seat or casing, which is a cylinder having anopening 6 at the bottom, communicating with the retort or cylina, and anopeningf of substantially the same size near the top. Upon this cylinderor seat (Z, at the upper edge of the opening f, may be secured thescreen 7. Within the valve seat is the rotary valve 9, having pockets71' h situated upon the opposite sides of the valve. These pockets areelliptical in shape,the internalsurface of the wall of the lower portionthereof be in g substantially concentric with the circumference of thevalve 9. There is thus formed an external wall on the recess or pocket,which may be shortened or lengthened and which may terminate in a lip"i, (see Fig. 6,) which may be increased or diminished in size. I donot, however, restrict myself to two openings, as the number may beincreased, as seen in Fig. 17, where four openings are shown. The valveg may be mounted upon the shaft 8, which is journaled in the ends of thecasing (Z, or it may be provided with trunnions Z Z as shown in Fig. 4.Near the opening f is placed the sprocket-wheel m, which, by an endlesschain it, having fingers 0 0, is connected with asimilar sprocket-wheel112. (See Fig. 10.) per 12, which is also shown in Fig. 10. Beneath theshaft 16, across the outside of the end of the cylinder a, is placed insuitable journals the shaft 9. This shaft is provided at one end with apulley 10 with a worm 12 and at the other end with the beveled gear 13,which matches with the beveled gear 14 on the shaft 2", which shaft alsocarries the Above this may be placed a hop:

miter 17. On the shaft 16 is the gear 15, which matches with the worm12. The miter 17 matches with a similar miter 18 on the shaft 19, whichextends diagonallyupward to the upper part of the cylinder at and whichhas upon its upper end a miter 20, which matches with the miter 21 uponthe shaft 8.

The discharging-port comprises a casing and valve like those of theinlet-port and operated by similar mechanism actuated by the shaft Z;but the outlet-port f of the casing connects with a pipe or tube 7,beneath which is the tank 1. The pipe 7 extends below the level of thetop of the sides of the tank. 'Within the tank are the sprocket-wheels 22, provided with the endless chain 3, which at regular intervals has thebosses or projections 4 4. The tank is supplied with an inlet-pipe 5 andan outlet 6.

- In order to equalize the pressure upon the valve g, the casing or seatCZ may be provided with an annular space 19 at either end, as shown inFig. 7, (see also Fig. 8,) extending from the side of the opening orinlet e around one side of the seat 11 to near the top, where theinterior walls cease. When such annular spaces are used, the shaft orvalve-stem 8 may be connected with the valve 9 in the manner shown inFig. 9. The end of the valve 9 is provided with a rectangular slot i,while the valve-stem has upon the end a rectangular piece of slightlyless width than the slot i, and the trunnion upon the other end isdispensed with. If the valve is provided with trunnions, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4, in order that the valve may be rendered tight the packingz 2' should be used, which may be of asbestos or of metal. If metallic,it is made effective by the use of springs in the ordinary manner.

- The feeding device already described may be modified, as shown inFigs. 2 and 13 to 17, inclusive. It consists of a chute w sufficientlylarge to permit the passage of one can at a time, beneath the end ofwhich may be placed a cup-shaped cam a or cylinder with a cup-shapedopening. This cylinder is rotated upon the shaft Z, which is providedwith the spur 24:, matching with the spur 23, which in turn matches withthe spur 22 on the shaft 3. There may be substituted for the cup-shapedcam already described, and shown in Fig. 2, the cylinder b. (Shown inFig. 13.) This cylinder is rotated upon the shaft 26; but instead ofbeing located over the center of the openingf it is placed at the upperedge thereof and not beneath, but at about the level of the opening ofthe chute 10. It is provided with a circular depression on the side, asshown in Fig. 13. In Fig. 14 is shown a further modification of thefeed. The cylinders a and b may be dispensed with and their placessupplied by the finger c, which extends upward slightly above the bottomof the chute w. This is held in a boss (1', below which it is pivotallyconnected with the arm e, the other end of which is in turn pivoted tothe lever f, the lower end of which is rigidly connected with the shaft25. On the end of the shaft 25 is rigidly fixed the lever f, which isprovided with a fiat disk at its free end, while a coil-spring 8 extendsfrom its center to the point above it on the end of the casing. Theshaft 8 is provided with a cam 9. (See Fig. 14.) A modification of thedevice last described is shown in Fig. 16. The opening f is surmountedby a frame provided with grooves, in which there is a plate h, having anopening i sufficient to admit the entrance of a can. The upper end ofthe plate h is provided with a bent plate it, while on the under side ofthe plate h is a bracket Z. To this bracket is bolted the rod m, whichis provided with a boss n,.the lower end of the rod m being providedwith a coil-spring 0, surmounted by a diskp, while the shaft 8 isprovided with a cam g, as shown in Fig. 14. In Fig. 17 is shown amodification of the valve g, it being provided with four pockets. Whenthe valve has this number of pockets,the feeding device may be modified,as shownin Fig. 17, the shaft Z being provided with a disk having foursemicircular sides for the reception of the cans. The valves alreadydescribed having two pockets may admit of modification, as shown in Fig.6, where the elliptical opening is more elongated than shown in Fig. 1,and the lip 2' is made more reentrant. The pockets in the valve, ashereinbefore described, are designed for use when the valve 9 is rotatedin one direction only; but as it may be desired to so construct thepocket that the valve may be rotated in either direction, this isaccomplished, as shown in.

Fig. 5, by providing pockets of equal dimensions and of equal. length oneither side of the center.

The mechanism operating the feeding device,the valves, and the innercylinder should be so timed that the cans or packages will be deliveredat the instant when the recess or pocket 71. is directly beneath theopening f in the casing or in the cylinder, as the case may be, thusprotecting the surface of the valves from abrasion by the cans.

The operation of the device, it is believed, will be readily perceived.Power being applied to the pulley 10, the cans or packages are placedwithin the fingers 00 of the chain n either by hand or else are fed uponthe chain through the medium of the hopper o, the sprocket m beingoperated by the shaft Z. The cans are then carried over the wheel m. Asthe valve 9 revolves the screen it assists to direct the cans into thepockets. The can having been received within the pocket h is held withinit by the external wall of the pocket and lip i, so that contact withthe side of the valve'seat is avoided, and as the valve revolves the canis dropped from the pocket onto the cylinder 1) within the holdingdevices c c, the cylinder i) being in the meantime in'rotation. Afterthe can has thus been delivered the steam which has escaped into y arotates.

the pocket while passing the opening e escapes through the opening 00.As the pressure of the steam within the cylinder a has a tendency toraise or elevate the valve within the seat, provision is made by thedevice shown in Figs. 7 and 8 for equalizing the steam-pressure, thepressure of the steam through the apertures 7* opening upon the tops ofthe ends of the valves being about equal to that exercised upon thelower side through the opening e. To permit and facilitate theequalization of the steam-pressure in this way, the valve-stem isconstructed as described,the construction allowing the requisite play.The wall, which terminatesin the lip 1 and the lip 1' maybe increased inlength and size, respectively, (see Fig. 6,) when the lip i is employed,the purpose being to retain the can longer in the pocket, as might bedesired should the opening 6 be placed to the left of the position shownin the inlet-valve of Fig. l or for any other reason. After the can orpackage has passed through the retort it passes through the opening a atthe eXit and falls into the pocket 72, wherein by rotation of the valveit is delivered through the tube 7 into the tank 1, which by means ofthe pipes 5 and 6 is kept filled with an even supply of cold water, ontothe conveyer, consisting of the sprockets and chains, whereby it iscarried to the required point. The cans or packages are thus immediatelycooled and upon issuing from the tank are at once ready to be handled.

It is believed that the operation of the modification of the feedingdevice will be readily perceived. In that shown in Fig. 2 the cans aredelivered into the cup-shaped orifice or recess of the cylinder ct,whence they are delivered within the pockets h as the cylinder In thedevice shown in Fig. 13 the cans as they roll down the chute impingeagainst the surface of the cylinder 1), which rotates against theperiphery of the can until the latter enters the circular recess in theside of the cylinder 1), when it is carried by the rotation of thecylinder h into the pocket It, the next can being held meantime upon thechute by the periphery of the cylinder. The operation of the devicesshown in Figs. 141, 15, and 16, it is believed, is equally obvious. Thefingers c and respectively, hold back the cans in the chute 20 untilsuch time as they will roll from the chute directly into the pocket 7twithout impinging upon the periphery of the valve 9. In that shown inFig. 14 the finger t" is alternately raised by the cam g and isalternately depressed by the spring 8. The operation of the lattercauses the finger c to be depressed, so as to allow the can which restsagainst it to roll into the pocket 71. In the device shown in Fig. 16the can rests upon the plate 7t until such time as the pocket h is readyfor its reception, when the cam g passes by the disk 0, permitting theplate It to be forced downward by the spring 0, which at the same timecarries the opening 2' beneath the lower can in the chute and at thesame time inserts the plate 70' between the lowest can and that nextabove it, thus holding the other cans in the chute w in position whilethe lowest can drops into the pocket it.

What I claim is- 1. In an apparatus for sterilizing or cooking goods,the combination with a retort provided with an inlet-opening; asteam-tight valve-casing mounted over said inlet-opening, and saidcasing having an opening communicating therewith, and a feed-opening; asteam-tight rotary valve provided with pockets, mounted in said casing;and a reliefpassage in said casing communicating with the surface of thevalve; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for sterilizing or cooking goods, the combinationwith a retort provided with outlet and inlet openings; a steam tightvalve-casing mounted over said inletopening, and said valve-casinghaving an opening communicating therewith, and a feed-opening; asteam-tight rotary valve provided with pockets, mounted in said casing;a relief-passage in said casing communicating with the surface of thevalve; and a steam-tight valve at the discharge-opening of the retort;substantially as described.

3. In combination with a cooker having an inlet and an outlet, a valvewith pockets in a casing located at each, said casing having channelstherein at each end connected at one side with said inlet or outlet andat the opposite side opening upon the surface of said valve,substantially as described.

4:. The combination of a discharging-valve and a tank external thereto,said tank being provided with a conveyer and a water-supply, saidconveyer being adapted to receive the can or packages discharged by saidvalve whereby such cans or packages maybe cooled as they are conveyedaway, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a casing having a rotary valve with pocketsthereunder, a feeding-table adapted to discharge cans and other packagesinto said pockets, a finger adapted to reciprocate through the bottom ofsaid table and a cam and lever operating said finger, substantially asdescribed.

The combination of a casing; a rotary valve with pockets, mountedtherein; afeeding-table; a feed-regulating device arranged toreciprocate across the path of travel of the articles, permitting thedelivery of the articles singly; and a cam operating said feedregulatingdevice; substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for sterilizing or cook ing goods, the combinationwith a steamtight casing having a feed and a delivery opening; ofarotarysteam-tight Valve mounted in said casing; said valve havingpockets provided with concave outer lips and open ings arranged to allowsaid pockets to come successively into communication with thedelivery-opening in the casing in advance of communication with thefeed-opening; substantially as described.

8. The combination of the valve-ca'sin g provided with feed and deliveryopenings, of the rotary steam-tight valve mounted therein and providedwith pockets having overhanging concave lips, and a relief-opening insaid casing communicating with the surface of the valve; substantiallyas -described.

9. The combination of the valve-casing provided with feed and deliveryopenings, of the rotary steam-tight valve mounted therein and providedwith pockets having overhanging concave lips, a relief-opening in saidcasing communicating with the surface of the valve,

